How Far We've Come

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Welcome to our series on the big moments that have shaped Australia, and how they impact the challenges we face today.

Latest ep: Tech in the classroom... from Rudd-tops to AI

Technology in the classroom is a hot topic at the moment... So, in our final instalment of this series of How Far We’ve Come, we’re digging into some of the big tech developments in our classrooms in recent times. And looking ahead, there are big changes to come - and yes, AI, we’re looking at you…

Season 2: All episodes

We're putting the spotlight on education. Why? Because it’s so crucial in the telling of how well Australia has realised its potential so far, and how well we’re equipped to deal with the challenges of the future.

How Far We've Come Season 2

Ep1: The tale of free and compulsory schooling

First stop: the birth of compulsory education, because Victoria was one of the pioneers in the world in providing free, compulsory, and secular education. Spoiler alert: it was considered a politically motivated and controversial move…

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Ep2: Learning and earning with TAFE

To maintain our standard of living and grow our economy, we need a skilled workforce. It’s a challenge that Australia's been grappling with for a long time - as are so many countries around the world - and it's only going to get tougher. When it comes to a solution, vocational education and training comes up a lot. So, let's dive into how it all began…

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Ep3: The HECS chronicles

To maintain our standard of living and grow our economy, we need a skilled workforce. It’s a challenge that Australia's been grappling with for a long time - as are so many countries around the world - and it's only going to get tougher. When it comes to a solution, vocational education and training comes up a lot. So, let's dive into how it all began…

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Ep4: Put your pencils down...It's NAPLAN

If you’ve been connected to a primary or high school at some point in the past 15 years, chances are you’re familiar with NAPLAN. It’s Australia’s standardised tests measuring numeracy and literacy, and it’s been in the news a lot… In this instalment, we will take a closer look at NAPLAN, how it originated, what it tells us about our schooling systems, and why it's big news for the future. So, pencils ready…

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Ep5: Giving a Gonski...

A decade ago, whether (or not) you ‘give a Gonski’ was a big talking point. This was about funding Aussie schools - public, independent and Catholic. And it’s not a relic of the political past - a variation of the schools funding theme is set to be in the news a lot in the coming year as governments hash out a new agreement. So, in this instalment, we'll get you across the Gonski reforms and how they continue to shape the debate today.

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Ep6: Tech in the classroom...From Rudd-tops to AI

Technology in the classroom is a hot topic at the moment... So, in our final instalment of this series of How Far We’ve Come, we’re digging into some of the big tech developments in our classrooms in recent times. And looking ahead, there are big changes to come - and yes, AI, we’re looking at you…

Season 1: All episodes

Our 6-part series that unpacks how far women have come while acknowledging there's still work to be done. It's about highlighting the big moments that made a real difference in women’s lives and continue to be relevant today.

All episodes

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First stop: the early 1880s and the Married Women's Property Act, because there was a time when Aussie women couldn’t own their home or business. Spoiler alert: we were shocked about that continues to impact property ownership stats today…

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This week we're diving into WWII and the first big wave of Aussie women entering the paid workforce. It was a game-changer (yay), but it also entrenched the gender pay gap (boo) - so it's a topic that's still very relevant today.

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This week, we're going back to the swinging '60s. A time when women in the public service, once they got married, were legally forced to resign. That's due to something known as the Commonwealth Marriage Bar...

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This week, we're diving into the Family Law Act and the introduction of no-fault divorce in 1975. It was groundbreaking legislation that allowed couples to split without pointing fingers and a total game-changer for those in unhappy/downright abusive relationships.
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The 1984 Sex Discrimination Act outlawed discrimination on the basis of sex, marital status and pregnancy. It ensured the right of women to have equal access to employment,It outlawed discrimination based on gender and made sexual harassment in the workplace illegal for the first time. Fun fact: Oz was one of the first countries to make gender discrimination unlawful. So let's get into that...
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Who gets to take it? How long can you be away from work? Can your partner also take leave? These are questions many families grapple with, but at least there are options. Note: when the federal government's Paid Parental Leave scheme was first introduced in 2011, we were one of the last developed countries to offer it...

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